Scot McKnight and Markan Priority

This is an ongoing book review of Scot McKnight's Interpreting the Synoptic Gospels: Guides to New Testament Exegesis. So far the book is giving me great insights as to how I should approach the gospels as an untrained exegete. I am not afraid to admit my weakness on the issue, since I know that I'm going to come up some answers eventually, and I hope it will later become a strength throughout my studies. Chapter 2 discusses great ways to look at historical writings in developing a more cogent approach to primary and secondary sources. McKnight then goes on to list some of the best sources to consult while doing the research, then he begins to move away from historical documents, giving me more freedom to approach the anticipated problem in Gospel exegesis—the relationship of the Synoptic Gospels, i.e., the Synoptic Problem. This is where my concentrated efforts are given precedence. (This is the reason for the research, actually.)

Dr. McKnight goes on to illustrate major theories that best explain and placate the problem. He postulates four major theories, two of which are more probabilistic in solving this problem. For the sake of my readers, I'm going to post them in name but I'm not going to explain them; however I am going to explain and address the view that he does support.

1. The Augustinian Hypothesis
   
2. The Griesbach Hypothesis
   
3. The Oxford Hypothesis (or Q Hypothesis)
   
4. The Farrer Hypothesis
   

McKnight argues for (3) while (4) follows the same line of reasoning while rejecting Q. Both, however, give Markan priority main adherence. From what I've read so far, it seems that (3) is most compatible with critical scholarship, and it is the most widely held view. That really doesn't say much since (2) was at one point in the position that (3) is in now. From what I've seen and read, it seems most reliable to hold to Q. But again, I have to wait and see where the evidence is going to take me. I just hope that I get there soon…but then again, let's not rush scholarship—no I'm not a scholar, but I aspire to be. I will write more once I've got more reading done.